. a $ 10 million grant in 2000 by the riley foundation , a local foundation chartered in 1998 , sparked the building ' s restoration while $ 15 million came from a combination of city , county , and federal grants . the opera house ' s renovation was completed in september 2006 under the new name " mississippi state university riley center for education and performing arts . " the riley center , which includes a 950 @ - @ seat auditorium for live performances , a 200 @ - @ seat studio theater , and 30 @ , @ 000 sq ft ( 2 @ , @ 78 ##7 m2 ) of meeting space , attracts more than 60 @ , @ 000 visitors to
. a $ 10 million grant in 2000 by the riley foundation, a local foundation chartered in 1998, sparked the building's restoration while $ 15 million came from a combination of city, county, and federal grants. the opera house's renovation was completed in september 2006 under the new name " mississippi state university riley center for education and performing arts. " the riley center, which includes a 950 @ - @ seat auditorium for live performances, a 200 @ - @ seat studio theater, and 30 @, @ 000 sq ft ( 2 @, @ 787 m2 ) of meeting space, attracts more than 60 @, @ 000 visitors to